What to do, and where to go

Just bought this PROJECT on Ebay. Everything is there but the lock and a little bit of the stock http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/Bill_Knapp/5.bmp :crackup: It has an octagon to round barrel 1 1/8" at the breech and about .60 bore. Two questions Number one is where can i get it rebored, It appears I can got to .62 smoothie, and second should I convert to Flint and make it a convertable with L&R locks or would a different lock be more appropriate like the Ketland or theManton and Ashmore. It does look like it was a trade piece , so I want to be as period appropriate as I can, but without a lock to be more sure I think I'm gonna hafta guess, and lean on the forum's advice. Not bad for eighty five bucks, huh :haha:

 

Do you have to rebore it? Oh, never mind. The close up picture of the breech end makes me think that the bore could be in the same shape and the tang end looks boogered up, may just be the photo. Is it rifled now?

 

Seller didn't say, and It's still in transit. I'm hopeing it's serviceable, and that I can make it a smoothie. I'll take more pic's when I get it, but am expectant father antsy allready. It just looks like it will be a fun project.

 

[rich pierce]

I would unbreech it first to get a good look. Remember, many old guns are still loaded and can kill you. If there is rifling I'd lap it if not bad or try to fresh it myself if too worn. If the rifling was shot I'd bore it out myself. If you find the book on ebay, "The complete rehabilitation of the flintlock rifle" this has all the techniques in it. I have lapped and freshed barrels before and it works.

 

Thanks for the advice, I have run into a loaded antique once before, thank goodness no flint and a fouled touchhole.and the owner had let his kids dryfire it. They got lucky, I wormed out about eighty grains, and an ounce and a half of 4 or 5 shot. I was an old Bess. I'll try looking for that book as well, and then see what I can get for advice on converting it to flint.

 

Rich thanks, I ordered the book along with Kit Ravenshies on barrels. Dixie had them cheapest. One copy on ebay was going for twenty bucks, more than twice as much, and it was used. again thanks for the tips Bill :master: